Get festive with these food safety tips!

It’s a busy time of year – people are traveling, there’s shopping to do and sometimes things fall by the wayside (like Aunt Marge’s fruitcake – yikes).

Still, it’s important to keep food safety at the forefront of holiday festivities to ensure the memories made are merry and bright (trust us, foodborne illness is neither of those things). Check out these food safety tips to help keep your holiday festivities food-safe.

Begin with the basics

Ensure your food preparation surfaces are clean. Think about the stuff that may be hitching a ride on the stuff that gets set on the counter – bags, purses, cousin Mel’s pet ferret – none of that goes well with turkey and stuffing.

This one’s important since according to new research, 95 percent of us are doing it incorrectly. Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, ensuring that you clean the front and backs of your hands, fingers, and under your nails.

Preparing the feast

Thawing a turkey? Do so in the fridge, not on the counter or in hot water. Bacteria flourish at temperatures between 40-140°F (called “the danger zone”) so it’s important to avoid those temps. It takes about 24 hours per 5 pounds of turkey when thawing in the fridge, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) notes.

Was a meat thermometer on your wish list this year? If you don’t have one, it should be. Ensuring meat is cooked to the proper temperature is vital. And, no, judging “doneness” by color isn’t enough. Here’s a rundown of safe temps: